How To Help Someone Quit Smoking - What May Be Needed From You

At one point almost all of us stop and think how to help someone quit smoking. The malign addiction is so widespread that it is hard to meet a person who has no smokers in his or her surrounding. You too are probably concerned with the same problem.

Remember that you cannot make their decisions for them. Smokers understand the risks. They have to decide that they want to quit. Once they do make that decision, you have to know how to help someone quit smoking. There are some things you can do.

1. Without nagging, judging and pushing try to be there for the person any time your support is needed. Do not take all his/her efforts for granted - it is not so easy to stop smoking at once. Gradual reducing the number of cigarettes a day is a better idea. If you are concerned about how to help someone quit smoking, learn to appreciate the person first of all.

2. No matter what you think, you do not know exactly how to encourage them. Unless you are a smoker who has quit, do not tell them that you know how it feels. Instead, ask them how you can support them first. Asking them what they need from you is very important in answering the question how to help someone quit smoking.

3. There will be times when the person is very low on confidence and feels that it is just too difficult. Make it very clear that you have faith in them. Your confidence in them can let them find the strength they need.

4. In planning how to help someone quit smoking, do not miss out on small and simple things. Ensure the quitter is not tempted to have a cigarette again by keeping him/her in a non-smoking surrounding. Encourage more physical activity and spend more quality time with the person. Nagging or lecturing will not help at all.

5. Acknowledge their achievements. They may seem small to you, but they are really important for the quitter. Breaking an addiction is a painful process - the more reasons you have to be proud when your loved one succeeds.

Remember that only a quitter knows how hard it is to deal with the pangs. You can think about how to help someone quit smoking and do everything you can, but ultimately, it is their decision and their triumph when they succeed.